Sixty-five states adopt joint statement on protection of Christians at 28th UNHRC session in Geneva

GENEVA, March 13 /TASS/. A joint statement by 65 states «Supporting the Human Rights of Christians and Other Communities, particularly in the Middle East» was pronounced on the initiative of the Russian Federation, the Holy See and the Lebanon in the course of the 28th UNHRC session in Geneva on 13 March 2015. The Joint statement was supported by the Russian Federation, Holy See, Lebanon, Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Congo, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Macedonia, Mali, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, Switzerland, Syria, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Venezuela, Zambia. "We call upon the international community to support the deeply rooted historical presence of all ethnic and religious communities in the Middle East. Here world religions appeared, including Christianity. Now, they live a serious existential threat from the so-called "Islamic State" and Al-Quaeda, and affiliated terrorist groups, which disrupt the life of all these communities, and create the risk of complete disappearance for the Christians," the joint statement says. . The statement voice s deep concern with the position of Christians in the Middle East where "dozens of Christian churches and ancient shrines of all religions have been destroyed. ""Both communities and individuals fall victim to barbaric acts of violence: they are deprived of homes, driven from their native lands, sold into slavery, killed, beheaded and burnt alive," the text of the statement says. "This support will help the countries of the region to rebuild healthy plural societies and sound political systems, ensuring human rights and fundamental freedoms for all," the document emphasized. Friday’s statement by 65 states at the United Nations Human Rights Council session in Geneva came as logical continuation of a conference held in Geneva on March 2 which added a political impetus to the protection of Christians around the globe. The March 2 conference was attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Read more